Meet Amy Ellis

We were lucky to catch up with Amy Ellis recently and have shared our conversation below.

Hi Amy, thank you so much for agreeing to open up about a sensitive and personal topic like being fired or laid-off. Unfortunately, there has been a rise in layoffs recently and so your insight and experience with overcoming being let go is relevant to so many in the community.
Chasing a higher paying job isn’t what it’s cracked up to be. In 2020, I was in the healthcare industry working as an Human Resources Manager. We all know what happened in 2020; the outbreak of Covid-19. I had been in the HR arena since 2008 and never had seen a revolving door of employment like i did in 2020. I was very frustrated with what was going on in the industry. I decided to make a career change that was making a heck of a lot more than I was making.

In 2021, I got a higher paying job in the mortgage industry. I was working from home, very happy, and making $10,000 more than the last job. I was living on top of the world until 2 months later when the company laid off 21 of us. I never had this happen to me. I’ve always been on the side of letting people go, but not being let go.

When the job search began, I went back to what I knew best, Human Resources. Unbeknownst to me, I didn’t think it would take 1year and 6 months to find a job. I quickly found out that I was well overqualified and wanted too much money for the positions that I was applying for. It came to a point where I had to lower my salary requirements to even get interviewed.

I finally was offered a position where the pay was less than what I was making in the healthcare industry. However, I’m so much at peace that it is ok. The morale is keep searching, do not comprise being you, and you may have to make some sacrifices in pay to get the peace that you deserve.

Let’s take a small detour – maybe you can share a bit about yourself before we dive back into some of the other questions we had for you?
Outside of being a full-time Human Resources Professional, I’m also a licensed NC Realtor and known as The Real Estate Investment Lady. I work with homeowners in Wake and Johnston counties. I’m not your stereotypical real estate agent. I have a very specific niche; homeowners facing foreclosure. That niche is dear to me since I was them one of them back in 2008.

I have positioned myself as the go to person for homeowners facing foreclosure. I am a Certified Distressed Property Expert (CDPE) and became Short Sales knowledgeable so that I can help homeowners who are in this financial situation with their home.

Looking back, what do you think were the three qualities, skills, or areas of knowledge that were most impactful in your journey? What advice do you have for folks who are early in their journey in terms of how they can best develop or improve on these?
Having a strong faith, an unwavering passion, and a good support system are the three things that are very important throughout my journey.

The advice that I would give to those starting on their journey, know who you are, what you will tolerate, and stay true to your core. If you force whatever you are wanting, it will not turn out good. Listen to your spirit, your intuition. If you are passionate about something, stick with it even if/when it gets hard.

What has been your biggest area of growth or improvement in the past 12 months?
My biggest area of growth has been in my faith. I had no job or steady income 12 months ago. But yet I was not late on my car or rent payment. Leaning in on my faith, I knew that things would work out in due time. I learned how not to force things to happen. For example, if I interviewed with a company and received a rejection email, I sometimes would reach out to find out why. However, if there’s no response, I wouldn’t force it or pursue it. My take on it, that wasn’t the job for me.

Contact Info:

Image Credits
SDV Productions

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